Chapter 2: Instant Kill

Ling Tian clearly did not expect Mu Xian to come out of the carriage against his advice. Although Ling Tian’s combat power was not weak, he was somewhat inferior compared to Mu Guitu, not to mention Red Wolf, the leader of the Fire Wolf Gang, whose cultivation was on par with his own, standing watchfully nearby.

Moreover, since Red Wolf had appeared, it was impossible for the other members of the Fire Wolf Gang not to be present. Ling Tian could even imagine the Fire Wolf Gang members setting up an inescapable net in the dense forest.

“Xian’er, it’s dangerous outside, get back into the carriage now!” Remembering the perilous situation at this very moment, Ling Tian shouted anxiously.

Although Mu Guitu had said he would not harm Mu Xian’s life, that was under the condition that Mu Xian obediently handed over the family’s authority. If Mu Xian did not cooperate, Mu Guitu would absolutely not show any mercy.

“Uncle Ling, Sixth Elder is one of our own. He has come to take us home, so why should I get back in the carriage?” Mu Xian seemed not to notice the urgency in Ling Tian’s tone. He asked with a face full of “confusion.”

Hearing Mu Xian’s words, Ling Tian felt so distressed it was like he wanted to vomit blood. Had studying at Yunyang Academy made Mu Xian stupid? Could he not see the situation before him at all?

While speaking, Mu Xian took large strides toward the direction of the dense forest.

Seeing this, Ling Tian grew greatly alarmed. He stretched out his hand, wanting to stop Mu Xian who was passing by him, but then he heard a cold snort in his ears. At the same time, the twang of a bowstring sounded from behind. An overwhelming killing intent quickly spread outside Qingling Ridge. It was Mu Guitu and Red Wolf making their move simultaneously.

Mu Guitu directly locked onto Ling Tian’s aura, while Red Wolf’s Ironwood Arrow had somehow already been nocked on the steel bow, the arrowhead pointing directly at Mu Xian.

“Ling Tian, if you dare make any reckless move, I guarantee the waste next to you will become a beehive!” Red Wolf’s great bow was already fully drawn. He stuck out his tongue to lick his lips, a gleam of excitement flashing in his eyes.

Hearing this, Ling Tian’s mouth felt extremely bitter, and his face showed an expression of agony. Forget that Mu Guitu was supporting Red Wolf at this moment; even without Mu Guitu, without a good horse, Ling Tian could not protect Mu Xian’s life and escape the pursuit of Red Wolf and the Fire Wolf Gang.

“Brother Mu, oh Brother Mu, I owed you my life twenty years ago. It seems today I have to return it to you!” Remembering how he had failed Mu Yuanshan’s instructions and ultimately could not protect Mu Xian’s life, a sharp pain stabbed Ling Tian’s heart. Determination slowly spread across his face.

“You… you’re not here to take me back? You’re also here to kill me?” After walking forward a few steps, Mu Xian seemed to suddenly realize his true situation. He stumbled, plopping down on the ground, his eyes filled with terror.

Clearly witnessing Mu Xian’s pathetic reaction, Ling Tian turned his head aside, unable to bear it. Mu Guitu glanced at Mu Xian with disgust, then continued to restrain Ling Tian. Only Red Wolf stared at Mu Xian with full disdain, bursting into loud laughter.

“Haha, who would have thought the legendary Mu Yuanshan of the past actually fathered such a useless son. Heaven truly has no eyes.”

While laughing loudly, Red Wolf’s eyes roamed up and down Mu Xian’s body, full of a teasing look like a cat playing with a mouse. The steel bow in his hand also moved along with his gaze, as if searching for a suitable spot on Mu Xian to strike.

“No… don’t kill me…” Slumped on the ground, Mu Xian’s face turned extremely pale under Red Wolf’s glare. He cried out in panic while scrambling to move his body backward, as if trying to put some distance between himself and Red Wolf to seek a sliver of hope.

What no one noticed was that while Mu Xian was moving backward, his hands hidden behind his back now held several colorful flowers and plants. His hands were rapidly crushing those plants into powder. Drops of dark green juice faintly emerged from his palms.

The dark green juice seemed bound by an invisible force, not releasing any scent, nor did it fall from Mu Xian’s hands.

“Useless, be careful now. I’m afraid I might accidentally shoot off your little bird. Then you won’t be able to pee anymore, and you’ll never enjoy the pleasure between a man and a woman in bed.” Red Wolf suddenly laughed loudly, and the sharp arrow in his hand was released with a twang.

The moment the arrow shot out, Ling Tian’s eyelids twitched, and his body tensed sharply. But after just one glance at the arrow, he relaxed, because this arrow was soft and weak without any force, certainly incapable of reaching Mu Xian.

Mu Xian, however, let out a frightened scream from this arrow and simply fainted.

Seeing this, Ling Tian’s face flushed red with even greater disappointment in Mu Xian. Mu Guitu and Red Wolf were stunned for a moment, then sneers appeared on their faces.

“Ling Tian, you see it too. Mu Xian is such a coward. Even if you risk your life, you cannot protect him. How about working for me instead? As long as you promise not to betray me, I can spare the lives of Mu Xian and his mother.” After Mu Xian “fainted,” Mu Guitu’s tone changed, extending an olive branch to Ling Tian.

Hearing this, Ling Tian just gave a cold snort, looking at Mu Guitu with disgust and disdain.

Seeing Ling Tian remained as unyielding as ever, Mu Guitu sighed, then said coldly, “Since you seek your own death, then don’t blame me for being merciless. Remember, it is your stubbornness and stupidity that cut off the path of survival for Mu Xian and his mother!”

“Old dog, it’s clearly you who harbors ill intentions. Why shift the blame for plotting against Madam and Xian’er onto me?” Ling Tian had already adjusted his emotions, prepared to fight desperately, but Mu Guitu’s light words immediately made him furious, his composure shaken.

While Ling Tian was speaking, Mu Guitu struck without hesitation. A pitch-black longsword let out a dragon’s roar from his back, then flew toward Ling Tian like lightning.

In his panic, Ling Tian hurriedly drew his blade to block. But because he had no time to circulate the Yuan Power within his body, he was sent flying dozens of meters, blade and all, by Mu Guitu’s sword slash. Not only did blood seep from the web between his thumb and forefinger of his sword-holding right hand, but a trickle of blood also leaked from the corner of his mouth. His face turned deathly pale.

Realizing he had fallen into a trap unknowingly and was severely injured because of it, Ling Tian felt even more despair. He wiped the blood from his mouth and asked unwillingly, “Old dog, Brother Mu was righteous and treated every family member as kin without distinction. Under his leadership, the family developed better and better. Why must you scheme for the position of Family Head?”

“Mu Yuanshan was indeed good. He advanced to become a True Essence Realm expert at the young age of fifteen, was accepted as a disciple by the immortal sect Xuanmen Palace, becoming a legend of Shitang Town. His mistake was in siring this useless Mu Xian and treating this waste like a treasure.”

“To extend the life of his useless son, he was foolish enough to steal his master’s sect’s treasure. Not only was his cultivation crippled, he was also expelled from the sect, even dragging the family into suffering oppression.”

“Mu Yuanshan was willing to give everything for his useless son. We have no obligation to waste everything on his useless son. So Mu Yuanshan and his son must die!”

“…”

Perhaps because he truly hated Mu Xian so much, Mu Guitu became more and more agitated as he spoke. In the end, his voice even became somewhat hysterical.

What Mu Guitu did not notice was that while he passionately denounced Mu Yuanshan’s various misdeeds, a faint, almost imperceptible wisp of green mist quietly drifted toward his nostrils. Even Red Wolf beside him was not spared.

“Sixth Elder, if you covet the family’s resources, just say so directly. Why bother finding so many high-sounding reasons? You’ve already torn off all pretense with us, is there still a need to put on a show in front of us?” Before Mu Guitu could finish speaking, a young voice suddenly rang in everyone’s ears. It was Mu Xian, who had just fainted, now “awake.”

While speaking, Mu Xian climbed up from the ground. The look he gave Mu Guitu was full of disgust and disdain, and his voice became extremely cold.

There was no trace of panic or fear on Mu Xian’s face now. Instead, there was composure and calm, as if he held the winning card.

Hearing Mu Xian’s words, Mu Guitu was as if someone had choked him, his voice cutting off abruptly. His old face flushed red.

Mu Guitu’s hypocrisy was one thing; having his true face exposed was another. Especially being scolded to his face by a useless person he looked down upon, Mu Guitu was even more enraged.

“Beast, you’re looking for death!” Mu Guitu roared and lunged toward Mu Xian, fully intending to tear him to pieces.

Ling Tian had been on guard against Mu Guitu ever since he heard Mu Xian speak. Discovering Mu Guitu’s killing intent, Ling Tian could no longer bother suppressing the injuries inside him. Without hesitation, he swung his blade, positioning himself in front of Mu Xian, a look of determination to face death on his face.

A crisp clang rang out as the long blade and the black sword collided fiercely, then rubbed together in mid-air, producing a series of blinding sparks.

Seeing Ling Tian disregard his serious injuries to forcibly block Mu Guitu’s enraged killing blow, Red Wolf could not help but show a mocking expression. The look he gave Ling Tian was full of pity and sympathy. He even put away his great bow, crossing his arms to watch from the side.

In Red Wolf’s view, even at his peak, Ling Tian was no match for Mu Guitu, let alone Ling Tian in his severely injured state. So the master and servant Mu Xian and Ling Tian before him were no different from dead men.

Soon, Red Wolf stared in astonishment, his eyes wide. Because after the blade and sword collided, the black sword in Mu Guitu’s hand flew out of his grip, while the long blade in Ling Tian’s hand did not slow down, continuing to slash toward Mu Guitu’s head.

“No…” At the critical moment, a desperate cry escaped Mu Guitu’s mouth.

Mu Guitu had just uttered the first word when Ling Tian’s blade landed on the top of his head.

With a crisp swish, Mu Guitu’s body was directly cleaved in two by the long blade. From beginning to end, Mu Guitu did not make the slightest evasive movement.

Seeing Mu Guitu’s body chopped in half by Ling Tian, Red Wolf was stunned, his mouth hanging open for a long time. He was completely shocked by what had just happened before his eyes.

Even Ling Tian himself could not believe what had happened. After delivering the slash, he fell into a daze, letting the scalding blood splatter all over him.